Casimir repulsion between metallic objects in vacuum

Publication Year
2010

Type

Journal Article
Abstract
We give an example of a geometry in which two metallic objects in vacuum experience a repulsive Casimir force. The geometry consists of an elongated metal particle centered above a metal plate with a hole. We prove that this geometry has a repulsive regime using a symmetry argument and confirm it with numerical calculations for both perfect and realistic metals. The repulsion is unambiguous as it occurs when the two objects lie on opposite sides of an imaginary separating plane.
Journal
PRL
Volume
105
Pages
090403